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78 America and Other Poems Sing of the lightning’s lurid flash, The ocean’s roar, the howling storm, The earthquake’s shock, the thunder’s crash, Where ghastly terrors teeming swarm. Sing of the battle’s deadly strife, The ruthless march of war and pillage, The awful waste of human life, The plundered town, the burning village! Of streets with human gore made red, Of priests upon the altar slain; The scenes of rapine, woe and dread, That fill the warriors’ horrid train. Thy song may then an echo wake, Deep in this soul, long crushed and sad, The direful impressions shake Which threaten now to drive it mad. TO — — — APPROACHING night her mantle flings O’er plain and valley, rock and glen, When borne away on fancy’s wings, Imagination guides my pen. I soar away to glittering spheres, And leave behind the sons of earth; Lo! my enraptured fancy hears Seraphic strains of heavenly mirth. A vision as of angel bright Sudden appears before my face, A beauteous, fascinating sprite, Endowed with every charm and grace. America and Other Poems 79 Majestic Juno’s lofty mien, With beauteous Venus’ form and face, And chaste Diana’s modesty, Adorned with wise Minerva’s grace,⁴⁵ United in thy form divine, With most resplendent luster shine. And when those matchless charms I viewed, Thy faultless form, and graceful mien, Surprised, amazed, entranced I stood, And gazed with rapture on the scene. And when thy lips were ope’d to speak, In tones so sweet, so soft and clear, Gabriel⁴⁶ his golden harp might break, And seraphs lean from heaven to hear. ’T is the pure mind which dwells within, Displays itself in act and word, And raises thee from every sin Far, far above the common herd. And when the term of life is past, And thy pure soul returns to heaven, The memory of thy worth shall last, While thought or mind to man are given. 45. On the various gods mentioned in this poem, see the notes to “To A. H.” (nn. 12–20). 46. Biblical archangel who appeared to Daniel, Zacharias, and the Virgin Mary. ...

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